Dr. CHRISTINA PODRAZA
Wheaton
Summary
Accomplished educational leader with 25 years of experience in classroom instruction, school administration, and educational consulting. Expert in building educator capacity, transforming instructional practices, and implementing data-driven systems that drive measurable student achievement. Proven track record of success in enhancing educational outcomes and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Passionate about empowering educators to reach their full potential and creating impactful learning environments for students.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
EDUCATION CONSULTANT
Curriculum Associates
07.2022 - Current
- Facilitate high-impact professional learning for educators and administrators
- Build leadership capacity for school leaders in data analysis and instructional leadership
- Assist schools in developing cohesive systems of curriculum implementation
- Work with teams to analyze data and motivate students to achieve high levels of growth
PRINCIPAL/ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
08.2017 - Current
- Led Jefferson Elementary to achieve Exemplary status from the state of Illinois
- Partnered with staff to transform instructional practices toward more responsive, relevant, and learner-driven approaches
- Built a positive school culture rooted in trust, instructional leadership, and teacher efficacy
- Empowered teachers to embrace risk-taking and innovation in their practice
- Strengthened family partnerships through consistent communication, feedback, and collaborative engagement
- Guided teachers to identify and focus on essential instructional priorities while meeting diverse student needs during hybrid and remote learning
- Expanded leadership role during COVID-19 to serve as principal for D205 K-1 remote-only classrooms while maintaining Jefferson principalship
- Established a Multi-Tiered System of Support for progress monitoring, resulting in substantial gains for struggling learners
- Implemented "Bite Sized Feedback" classroom observation cycles to create more collaborative and meaningful evaluation processes
- Leveraged social media to celebrate school successes and strengthen community connections
LEARNING SUPPORT COACH
Mill Street School
08.2012 - 06.2017
- Fostered a learner-driven, collaborative and reflective culture through deep coaching cycles, PLC facilitation, and professional learning opportunities
- Utilized trust, questioning skills, and personalized learning options to build a coaching program where over 90% of staff members elected to receive coaching
- Implemented a variety of professional learning structures to increase capacity of staff members including coaching cycles, book clubs, inquiry groups, peer observation and feedback, videotaping & reflection, Edcamps, self-study modules, newsletters and whole staff professional development
- Played a key role in the adoption of Professional Learning Communities
- Enhanced staff members' ability to reach a diverse population of learners through studies of culturally responsive practices and learner driven instruction
- Collaborated with staff members to increase student engagement by designing differentiated learning experiences incorporating student choice, real-world connection, goal-setting & reflection
- Increased staff members' capacity to integrate meaningful technology
- Incorporated the Danielson Model as a reflection tool with staff
CLASSROOM TEACHER
K-5
08.2000 - 06.2012
- Created original projects and assessments connected to student interests and aligned to Common Core Standards
- Developed multiple assessments in language arts and math to assist with differentiation for diverse student needs
- Designed authentic, interactive programs incorporating technology to motivate student learning that were adopted by grade-level teams
- Utilized best practices in reading instruction including Guided Reading, Reading Conferences, and Literature Circles, resulting in 100% of students meeting/exceeding MAPS test goals
- Developed and presented writing program that was implemented across K-5 classrooms district-wide
- Designed and implemented reading intervention curriculum and identified struggling readers through analytic testing
- Innovated multi-year service learning projects that taught students global perspectives through research and collaboration
- Utilized variety of data sources to make informed curricular planning decisions
- Demonstrated leadership through involvement in school and district committees, mentoring colleagues and student teachers
- Maintained consistent communication with parents through newsletters, phone calls, and emails
- Continually assessed student progress through daily observation, running records, and quarterly assessments
Education
Ed.D. - EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Roosevelt University
01.2014
M.Ed. - ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
DePaul University
01.2003
B.A. - Business Administration
Monmouth College
01.1999
Websites
PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
- Coordinator of the Illinois Young Author's Conference (2006-2017)
- Past President/Vice President of the Board of the Illinois Language and Literacy Council
- Those Who Excel Award Nominee as a 1st Year Instructional Coach
PRESENTATIONS
- Illinois Council of Instructional Coaching (ICIC) - Elevating Teacher Collaboration to Achieve Transformative Practices
- Illinois Reading Conference - Student Engagement in Literacy / Writer's Workshop
- Bensenville School District 2 Institute Day – Strategies and Structures to Increase Student Capacity in Writing
- Kane County Institute Day - Guided Reading
PODCAST INTERVIEWS
- The Innovator's Mindset with George Couros: Season 1: Episode 15b (April 2020)
- The Guiding Principals: Beyond the Desk Leadership with Rob Breyer: "The Town Crier" (October 2019)
- Dear Teacher, Don't Give Up! with Jeffrey Frieden: "Does My Principal Even Want to Hear My Ideas?" (September 2019)
- Transforming Learning by CBD – Episode 083: Transforming School Culture (April 2019)
Timeline
EDUCATION CONSULTANT
Curriculum Associates
07.2022 - Current
PRINCIPAL/ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
08.2017 - Current
LEARNING SUPPORT COACH
Mill Street School
08.2012 - 06.2017
CLASSROOM TEACHER
K-5
08.2000 - 06.2012
M.Ed. - ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
DePaul University
B.A. - Business Administration
Monmouth College
Ed.D. - EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
Roosevelt University
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